A closer look at the four groups at the 2023 Rugby World Cup

The 2023 Rugby World Cup in France kicks off on Friday, September 8. With pools for the tournament decided in December 2020, the current leading nations are in the same half of the draw.

Here, the PA news agency takes a closer look at the four groups and glances ahead to the knockout stages.

Pool A
Hosts France versus three-time champions New Zealand provides a blockbuster opening fixture in Paris. The All Blacks, on the back of winning the Rugby Championship, go into the competition as marginal favourites to lift the Webb Ellis Cup among bookmakers, while Les Bleus are also heavily fancied, particularly with home advantage. Italy will bid to help inflict a shock early exit on one of the pool’s leading nations and can take confidence from 2022 victories over Wales and Australia. Namibia, who have never won a World Cup match, and Uruguay, who have never reached the knockout stages, complete the group.

Pool B
For the second successive World Cup, Ireland and Scotland have been drawn together, only this time they are in arguably the toughest group alongside reigning world champions South Africa. The Scots begin against the formidable Springboks, who were tournament winners in 1995, 2007 and 2019, before completing proceedings with a potentially pivotal Paris clash against Andy Farrell’s Six Nations champions. Ireland have dominated recent meetings with Scotland, winning 12 of the last 13, including a 27-3 success in Japan four years ago. Romania, who missed out on the 2019 tournament after fielding an ineligible player in qualifying, and Tonga will be out to cause upsets.

Pool C
Wales and Australia are the favourites to progress, despite turbulent build-ups during which each brought back a former head coach. Warren Gatland rejoined Wales, who have won just three of their last 13 Tests, in December to replace Wayne Pivac and is bidding to better the fourth-placed finishes he achieved in 2011 and 2019. Eddie Jones took Australia to the 2003 final and returned to the role in January shortly after being dismissed by England. Georgia stunned Wales in the autumn and will be looking to do so again, while Fiji also pose a threat. Portugal are seeking a maiden World Cup win.

Pool D
England have endured a rocky ride in Steve Borthwick’s short reign but could not have wished for a kinder draw. The 2019 runners-up, whose underwhelming form from the end of the Jones era has extended into Borthwick’s tenure, face their biggest test first: Argentina in Marseille. Los Pumas pulled off a shock Twickenham win in the autumn and a repeat result, in the absence of suspended pair Owen Farrell and Billy Vunipola, would leave England playing knockout rugby against their other opponents. Samoa, Japan and tournament debutants Chile are ranked 12th, 14th and 22nd in the world respectively and have each never beaten the 2003 champions.

Knockout stages
The lopsided draw means only two of the sport’s five leading countries can possibly reach the semi-finals. Should, as expected, France and New Zealand progress from Pool A then their likely last-eight opponents will be South Africa, Ireland or Scotland. Conversely, opportunity knocks for the likes of England, Wales and Australia. The three nations have been far from convincing in recent times, underlined by coaching alterations for each since the autumn. Yet they will all be eyeing semi-final spots based on their favourable circumstances. Argentina, who finished third at the last World Cup staged in France (2007), are the other side likely to make the last eight.